nextMEDIA 2007 and Banff World Television Festival

Just a note to all of you folks that will be attending nextMEDIA 2007 and Banff World Television Festival to say 'howdy' if you see me around. I'd love to meet some of the blog readers in person and am always eager to hear any feedback.

The Banff New Media Institute and Digital Media Association of Alberta are co-producing presentations at nextMEDIA so I've been pretty busy. On Saturday, June 9, we're facilitating a New Media Business Exploration Study brief, and on Sunday we're showcasing a panel on Interactive Games & Social Networks.

I'll also be around during the Banff World Television Festival representing The Banff Centre at our booth and events.

A big thanks to all of you who came out to support the Digital Alberta Mixer in the Mountains at The Banff Centre on Friday evening!

Don't forget to check out all the other events at both festivals involving the many companies and organizations from Alberta's film, television, mobile, and digital media production industries.

And to those of you pitching projects in Banff: I wish you all the best of success.

Cheers!

Herland Film and Video Festival Closing

Due to the effects of funding cutbacks, it looks like the Herland Film and Video Festival had its last showing this year according to the Calgary Herald:

I'm very disappointed," says festival board member Tamrin Hildebrant, 33.

"Herland is the only film festival in Calgary that really focuses on films by women. We focus on topics that aren't covered in other film festivals."

For 17 years, Herland has provided a home to films that covered a range feminist-related topics not typically seen in the mainstream. From films about queer culture to movies by and for aboriginal women, women of colour and women with disabilities, the festival has hosted hundreds of independent movies throughout the years.

It began in 1989 when the Calgary Status of Women Action Committee, a feminist collective, joined with the Women of Colour Collective to host a film-focused fundraiser. Building up its audience throughout the years, the festival peaked in 2003-04 with an audience of about 1,700. The next year, however, the audience fell to 1,000."

Though I missed posting about this last month, it's still important to note the effects that government funding cutbacks have on smaller organizations.

You can read the full article at the link above.